GUWAHATI: A key associate of Waris Punjab De chief Amritpal Singh, has been granted a six-day parole by the Punjab Police following the demise of his uncle.
Kulwant Singh Rauke, who is currently imprisoned in Assam’s Dibrugarh jail, is the first member of the outfit to be released for any purpose.
Deputy Superintendent of Police, Manjit Singh, overseeing the Nihal Singh Wala subdivision of Moga, confirmed that Rauke is en route to his village in Moga from the distant confines of the Assam jail.
The move comes as a compassionate response to the tragedy befalling Rauke’s family.
Waris Punjab De, led by radical Sikh preacher Amritpal Singh, faced a crackdown resulting in the imprisonment of ten members, including Amritpal himself, in Dibrugarh jail since the initiation of the operation in March 2023.
Rauke’s temporary release sheds light on the otherwise tightly monitored situation.
Before his arrest, Rauke held a position as a clerk with the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL).
His familial history is marked by the shadow of tragedy, with his father reportedly disappearing in 1993 during the tumultuous period of Sikh militancy.
Known for his active involvement in Waris Punjab De, Rauke shares a close association with Amritpal Singh, often participating in the outfit’s various programmes.
The parole is seen as a rare departure from the stringent measures imposed on the imprisoned members.
The Assam jail currently houses Daljeet Singh Kalsi, Papalpreet Singh, Varinder Singh Johal, Gurmeet Singh Bukkanwala, Harjit Singh, Bhagwant Singh, Basant Singh, and Gurinderpal Singh Aujla, all awaiting legal proceedings against them.
The Waris Punjab De members faced intensified legal actions after an alleged intrusion into the Ajnala police station complex on February 23, 2023, prompting the issuance of arrest warrants under the National Security Act.
The unfolding saga continues to be a complex interplay of historical grievances, political dynamics, and the pursuit of justice.
